SALEM, Alabama -- An Elmore Correctional Center inmate who escaped from the facility yesterday afternoon has been apprehended, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections.

Robert Eugene Segrest Jr., 40, escaped from an outdoor, fenced holding cell near the back gate of the Elmore Correctional Center on Jan. 2 at approximately 4:05 p.m.

“It is believed that Segrest ran to a nearby residence and stole a 1994, GMC pickup truck, using the stolen vehicle to flee toward his hometown in Lee County,” said Brian Corbett, spokesman for the Department of Corrections.

Segrest had been placed in the disciplinary holding cell after being found with a cell phone in his possession.

Segrest is serving an eight-year sentence from Lee County for theft of property. He had a minimum release date of Feb. 20, 2013.

Authorities received information later Wednesday evening that Segrest had been in touch with relatives and friends in the Opelika area.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office was able to apprehend Segrest at 5363 Lee Road 158 in Salem at approximately 8:07 p.m.

Segrest suffered injuries when he got out of the truck he stole and jumped from a bridge, possibly suffering a broken ankle, Corbett said.

Segrest remains in the Lee County jail awaiting numerous undetermined charges that may include escape, theft, burglary, and reckless driving.

“I’d like to applaud the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and all the other law enforcement agencies involved in apprehending this inmate, including the Opelika Police Department and the Alabama Department of Public Safety, said Kim Thomas, Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner. “Officers from our Department, the Wetumpka P.D. and the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office were also involved in tracking leads and making sure that we re-apprehended this inmate as soon as possible. We are thankful he was only out of custody for four hours.”

This case remains under investigation and additional charges are pending.